It was only another hour until the ceremony, and then she and Gideon would be husband and wife. They would belong to each other.
She had to stop being so sentimental about this, but it was overwhelming and wonderful. They had been two souls alone throughout their lives.
Now they would be two soulstogether.
Harriet assisted in styling her hair while her friends, the ladies of Duchess Square, looked on. They were going to ride over to St. Mary’s in a row of carriages. She was to ride with Miranda and Gwenys while Gwendolyn, Suzanna, and Bonham followed in Gwendolyn’s stylish barouche.
Gideon had wanted to pick her up in his carriage, but Lord and Lady Berwick needed a ride, so he agreed to be the one to bring them to the church.
After all, Lord Berwick was essential. He would perform the fatherly duties on Berry’s behalf, the ceremonial gesture of handing her over to the new husband who would now assumethe role of protector and provider. It was only right that he be given the honor after taking care of her for all these years.
Of course, she had more than enough to provide for herself. But protecting herself from all the predatory wolves like Hawthorne had come to be a problem. She still shuddered to think what might have happened had Gideon not found Lord Berwick in time.
She shook out of the thought. This was a happy day.
Her own driver was designated to bring Harriet, Melton, and Mrs. Bolton to the church in her carriage. Unfortunately, Mrs. Garland would not be joining them, for she was too weak to get out of bed.
Once ready, Berry took a moment to stop in Mrs. Garland’s bedchamber to show her the wedding outfit she had chosen. The gown was silk, of course, and in the palest shade of rose, with a lace overlay at the bodice in the same hue. “Berry, dear, you look beautiful. Thank you for showing me what you’ve chosen. I am so sorry I must miss your wedding. But I am not important. Enjoy your day, and I am sure I will hear all about it from Mrs. Bolton and Harriet when they return.”
Berry kissed her and then joined her friends downstairs.
Miranda’s was an open carriage, and Berry inhaled the scent of the roses she’d had planted in the little park within their square of elegant townhomes. The day was already warming, but the sky was a surprisingly vivid blue marked by soft tufts of white clouds floating by. “And you’ll never guess who paid a call on us yesterday,” Gwenys was telling her, chattering away like a magpie.
Berry tried to follow the conversation even though she was completely distracted. “Um, you had a visitor? Who?”
“Those Scots who danced with Miranda and Gwendolyn at Lord Stanhope’s ball! Can you believe it? Oh, they are sohandsome. I wish I had been at the ball. I would have danced with every last one of them. And their accents!”
“It is called a brogue,” Miranda corrected her niece.
Gwenys put a hand over her heart and let out a swooning breath. “Oh, couldn’t you just die to hear them talking? I did.”
Miranda rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Gwenys, you must not encourage those Highlanders. Do you wish to be carried off to the wilds of Scotland? You are not even out yet. Be patient, for your turn will soon come.”
“Maybe yours and Gwendolyn’s, too. Why not? Now that Suzanna and Berry have made love matches for themselves, maybe it is a sign that you shall both do the same. The love gods are shining down on Duchess Square.”
“Nonsense, we are quite content as we are,” Miranda insisted.
Berry said nothing, for she had to agree with Gwenys.
Having found her happiness, she silently wished for love matches for Miranda and Gwendolyn. Miranda had been left a young widow and Gwendolyn had never been married. Miranda’s marriage had not been a happy one. In truth, it had been more of a sad mistake.
Gwendolyn had been betrothed, but the fellow had died before the wedding and she had never truly recovered from the loss, for theirs had been a love match.
Berry now fully understood how devastating a loss it had been for her dear friend. But were not Fiona and Rob, the Duke of Durham, the perfect example of a second chance at love?
She silently wished this for her friends.
It was a short ride to the church, and Gideon was already pacing in front of the massive doors while waiting for her to arrive.
Her heart fluttered upon her seeing him, for he looked so very handsome. Truly, he could be mistaken for an elegant duke.
Or the perfect knight.
He strode over to help Gwenys and Miranda descend, and then wrapped his hands around Berry’s waist to lift her out of the carriage. He kissed her lightly on the lips as he set her down. “You look divine.”
She grinned. “So do you.”
He placed her hand on his arm, and then lovingly wrapped his hand over hers. “Horace is waiting inside and cannot wait to see what you are wearing. He’s been driving me mad all morning, blathering on and on about your perfect sense of style and how I cannot stand at the altar beside you while looking like a mountain troll.”
